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Purchasing a home is a major investment, so buyers need to double-check before closing that the house is in the same condition it was in when they made the offer. This is where the final walk-through comes in. At the walk-through, the buyer gets a final chance to look over the home before signing on the dotted line.
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The final walk-through is the buyer’s last chance to make sure they are getting what they agreed to when making their offer and signing their contract.
Although you will be inspecting your new home during the final walk-through, this is not the same as a home inspection. The inspection occurs earlier in the home-buying process and is conducted by a licensed professional who looks for issues that may need fixing before the sale goes through. Typically, the buyer will ask the seller to repair or mitigate any significant defects as a condition of the home sale.
The final walk-through is one of the last steps in the home-buying process before closing on the house. Generally scheduled within 72 hours before the closing date, this walk-through is a time for the buyer and their real estate agent to inspect the home, room by room, without the seller or seller’s agent present. The seller should have moved out before the final walk-through.
The walk-through is also an opportunity for the buyer to ensure that the seller has addressed any issues the home inspection uncovered.
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When you attend the final walk-through, there are several items you should bring with you to help the process. These include:
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Your home inspection report: This enumerates all the issues that your home inspector flagged as needing attention.
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Your purchase agreement: This document lists any agreements you made with the seller about fixing problems, or replacing or upgrading fixtures.
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Something to check outlets
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Flashlight
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Camera
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Notebook
There are several things you should plan on checking during your final walk-through. Every home buyer should create their own checklist for the walk-through with the help of their Realtor. The following basic checklist should give you a good place to start when creating your personal list:
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Requested repairs: Check that the seller has completed any agreed-upon repairs to your satisfaction.
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Seller’s belongings: The seller should have moved everything out by the time you conduct the final walk-through.
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Items included with purchase: Ensure everything you agreed would stay with the property is still there, such as the refrigerator, washing machine, and dryer. If the seller said they would leave any window treatments, such as blinds or curtains, those should still be in place.
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Appliances: Plug in and turn on all appliances to make sure they work properly. Check that the ceiling fans turn on.
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Plumbing: Flush all the toilets, turn on all the faucets, and check under each sink for leaks.
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Outlets and light switches: Test all of these to confirm they work.
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Heating and cooling: Make sure the HVAC system is working.
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Doors and windows: Check that doors and windows open and close. This includes exterior doors but also closets and pantries. Also, make sure that any screens, storm windows, or storm doors are accounted for.
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Signs of pests or mold: It’s crucial to look around the entire house, but especially the attic and basement spaces.
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Exterior: Pay attention to gutters, roofing, siding, and landscaping.
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Condition of the home: Compare the home’s current state to its condition during your last visit. Other than the removal of the seller’s belongings, the house should look the same.
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The length of the final walk-through process can vary depending on the size of the home and whether any significant issues pop up. But buyers should take their time with the walk-through to avoid missing any potential problems.
You should immediately inform your Realtor if you uncover a problem during the final walk-through — ideally, they will already be at the house with you for this process. If it’s a major issue that needs addressing before closing day, you may need to delay the closing date. You can also ask the seller to either fix the problem or put money in an escrow account that you can use after closing to pay for unfinished repairs. It’s also possible to renegotiate the contract.
If a buyer finds a problem with the home during the final walk-through, they can ask the seller to fix it immediately. If the seller refuses, the buyer can either go through with the sale and agree to take on the problem or back out of the sale. But if the buyer walks away after the final walk-through, they could lose their earnest money deposit. The only way to walk away from the sale and get earnest money back is by negotiating a mutual release from the contract with the seller.
This article was edited by .